Japan National Route 197

National Route 197 (国道197号, Kokudō Hyakukyū-jūnana-gō) is a Japanese national highway running on the islands of Kyūshū and Shikoku. The 223.1-kilometer-long (138.6 mi) highway originates at a junction with Routes 10 and 210 in Ōita and terminates at a junction with Route 56 in Susaki, Kōchi. The route is interrupted between Saganoseki area of Ōita (where it joins with Route 217) and Ikata, Ehime because of the Hōyo Strait, and traffic between the two islands is carried by a ferry between the two towns. Though the gap is less than 15 km at the strait's narrowest point, there are currently no plans to bridge the gap.